HOW gratifying it is to know that we live in a time of such enlightenment among footballers. Last week, noble Barry Hall took it upon himself to deal for once and for all with the unsightliness of niggling, prodding and scragging. He knew there would be a price, but was prepared to pay it.

He suspected that he would be accused of taking the law into his own hands, and contented himself with the certainty that reformers and revolutionaries often are misunderstood in their time.

He has the satisfaction of knowing that at least one other player in the competition now understands.

Last year, the noted liberal and visionary Adam Selwood instructed comrade Des Headland and his family on perils and pitfalls of promiscuity. Subtly, cleverly, Selwood used an analogy to make his point. Unfortunately, their wires became momentarily crossed. Fortunately, the tribunal understood and the cause of progress was served.

Now a St Kilda player, a champion not just of football, but justice, rectitude and emancipation, too, has taken up the theme. At Telstra Dome last Friday, he delivered to Andrew Lovett a pithy lecture on the iniquity of violence against women.

Ever modest, the haloed Saint chose to deliver his lesson in a discreet setting, where it would attract no attention; he wanted no plaudits for his voluntary social work. Fortunately for posterity, the text and the spirit of his lesson were captured by an umpire's lapel microphone, and so can be savoured by followers.

"You bash your f---ing missus," he declaims.

Such a mind, to maintain such awareness when he might easily have been distracted by the minutiae of the match, and to focus with such compassion on the difficulties of a fellow footballer even as a little harmless misunderstanding was playing out between the teams. Football's high moral ground has never had such reinforcing.

When he reviews his approach, the solicitous Saint might note that Lovett is on the ground, surrounded by teammates and assailants, that the air is thick with curses, imprecations and gesticulations, and that Lovett does not appear to be able to contemplate his advice in the spirit it was intended.

He might conclude that next time, he will find a quiet room somewhere, and bring coffee and croissants.

He might think that much as succinctness has its charms, he ought to flesh out his lesson a little. He might think that he could have forgone his next immediate appointment at the three-quarter-time huddle to develop his presentation. He might even think to provide a fact sheet, with a letterhead and bullet points.

Tactfully, he might seek to get Lovett to open up a little about his own delicate case. Perhaps that was what he was getting around to.

Still, the scholarly Saint has the knowledge and force of his own virtue to fortify him. He has read the Respect and Responsibility Code, circulating among clubs and players these past 18 months with a view to codifying for footballers appropriate conduct towards women.

He knows what is acceptable. He knows violence absolutely is not. It was this point he made to the cowering Lovett on Friday night.

Fists clenched, his voice raised, his attitude warrior-like, such was his fervour for the cause. No violence, right. NO F---ING VIOLENCE!

Still, some doubters and recalcitrants were evident. An Essendon teammate of Lovett's, lacking the sanctified Saint's empathy, took exception and began to remonstrate with him. Again, a great man was being misread. An umpire's eyes widened as if to say that this was an odd time to bring up such a complex and messy business. But what would an umpire know?

Sadly, football is full of small minds. Cynics will cast aspersions on the sainted Saint and his motivations, will portray his actions as base, snide and provocative. They will claim that for all its codes and conventions, football has gone nowhere.

The enlightened will know better. They will see violence against women as a great and unresolved social ill. They will see the football industry as the perfect place to publicise the cause. They will see the saviour Saint as someone with the courage to take it up, and remember the qualities that have made him a legend of his club. They will again feel proud of our game and the way it builds character.